Gov. Phil Murphy stated Memorial Day Weekend was always a guidepost in his decision to ease more coronavirus-related restrictions, including lifting the indoor mask mandate for those fully vaccinated. “We’ve always targeted Memorial Day as when we hoped we would be able to take our strongest steps on the path back to a fully open New Jersey,” said Murphy during his press briefing May 24. “The mask mandate was unquestionably the right call. We know this has saved lives. I do not for one minute regret our taking these extra two weeks to ensure that the dramatic decreases we have begun seeing in both cases and hospitalizations would continue. I do not regret listening to a host of medical and scientific experts, including Dr. Tony Fauci, who spoke of a need to be more cautious to prevent a backslide.” North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey has 20 cities with populations over 10,000 where less than 50% of adults have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including North Jersey towns Wallington at 45%, Fairfield at 46% and Newark and Garfield at 47%. Gov. Phil Murphy noted there are 61 municipalities in the state, with a total combined population of more than 1.2 million, where fewer than half of adults have received at least their first dose, including in Warren County, where more than half of all towns in that county – 12 of 22 – are on this list. NJ.com
Gov. Phil Murphy said the state will eventually have some type of vaccine passport program but concerns about equity cause him concern. “(I am) open minded to it, but as long as we’re not where we need to be on equity, I don’t want to even inadvertently discriminate against big parts of our population, and that concerns me,” he said, adding increasing the vaccination rate in communities of color continues to be a priority and a challenge. ROI-NJ.com
Moderna’a COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection in teens ages 12 to 17 in a late-stage trial, according to the company. The finding could pave the way for the shot to become the second authorized in the U.S. for use in teens, after the Food and Drug Administration expanded authorization of Pfizer’s shot to include kids ages 12 to 15. The company said in a press release that the vaccine was 93% effective after one dose and 100% effective after two doses. The results of its Phase II/III trial, which enrolled roughly 3,700 teens, have not been peer-reviewed. PoliticoNJ
Children up to preteen ages can expect to wear masks when they go back to school this Fall. Gov. Phil Murphy said he anticipates issuing guidance next month but doesn’t expect much to change on masks for those younger than age 12 because a vaccine is not yet available for them. “We’ll have masking in schools in the Fall as a result of that,” he said. “I would suspect we’ll continue with some of the public health protocols inside the classroom and inside the school buildings.” The Daily Record
Although the Garden State will be lifting the indoor mask mandate for Memorial Day, state Republicans think more can be done. State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-24) lambasted Murphy’s lack of speed in reopening the New Jersey economy, while State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-40) was joined by 25th Legislative District Assembly members Aura Dunn and Brian Bergen in vowing to fight mask mandates for kids, specifically for Summer camps and for school in the Fall. North-JerseyNews.com
The Bayonne school district will not be going to a four- or five-day in-person schedule for the final month of the school year after multiple outbreaks of the coronavirus. Superintendent John Niesz said unrelated COVID-19 cases were reported at multiple schools in the district, involving both district staff and students, who range from grammar school to high school. The district has planned to go with a full or nearly full in-person learning plan in June if there were no outbreaks of the coronavirus. The Jersey Journal
Senate Republicans negotiating with the White House plan to produce a counterproposal to President Joe Biden’s $1.7 trillion infrastructure offer, promising a plan by May 27 that could amount to $1 trillion in public works spending over eight years. A bipartisan group of senators—including Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Joe manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)—are discussing their own infrastructure proposal that could surface should the talks between Senate Republicans and President Biden fail. The New York Times
Warren and Sussex counties are among the areas of New Jersey slated to receive federal dollars to boost access to broadband internet, as Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) and Gov. Phil Murphy promoted their success in securing $190 million from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. Gottheimer called the money “a very big deal,” but said that more needed to be done. “For the sake of our families, economy, schools, and health care, we must continue fighting for communities across Warren and Sussex Counties to help boost their broadband connectivity,” said the Congressman. North-JerseyNews.com
Sen. Cory Booker and Black lawmakers trying to write legislation to overhaul policing remain optimistic a deal can be reached in a statement released on the anniversary of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police. “While we are still working through our differences on key issues, we continue to make progress toward a compromise and remain optimistic about the prospects of achieving that goal,” said Booker and his negotiating partners, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA). The main holdup is how to tackle qualified immunity and therefore make it easier to sue police officers for certain actions. NJ.com
A wider variety of police officers will be required to wear body cameras under a directive issued by New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. Existing policy requires all uniformed patrol officers wear body cameras while out in the field. The newest directive would expand that to include tactical teams—like SWAT teams and similar units, officers in canine units and proactive enforcement teams. New Jersey Globe
Manhattan prosecutors have convened a special grand jury in their investigation of former President Donald Trump and his company, signaling the office is seeking to bring charges in the case, according to people familiar with the matter. The development signals that the office is seeking indictments following a multiyear investigation into the Trump Organization and its officers, former prosecutors said. District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has said the office is investigating possible bank, tax or insurance fraud. The Wall Street Journal
The only scheduled debate for Republicans running to be the party’s nominee for Governor was held May 25. The debate between Jack Ciattarelli and Hirsh Singh was highlighted on their approach to marijuana legislation, with Ciattarelli said he would push for a voter referendum to repeal marijuana legalization, if he’s elected governor and its rollout proves to be problematic and Singh would proceed with legalization and allow residents to grow marijuana plants at home as a counter to relying on corporate-owned dispensaries. NJ1015.com
Forms of business that involve cannabis could be allowed in Newton in new zoning regulations to keep businesses away from residential areas and schools. The council was presented with a draft ordinance allowing all forms of cannabis businesses, from growing to packaging to sales and delivery, to be allowed on Water and Mill streets and in the T-4 and T-5 zones, putting those businesses in the light industrial zone and approvals going through the Planning Board. New Jersey Herald
The borough clerk of Englewood Cliffs filed a lawsuit naming three officials and alleging discriminatory treatment by the Mayor. In the suit, Lisette Duffy alleges that Mayor Mario Kranjac has “engaged in a pattern and practice of derogatory, demeaning, and discriminatory treatment” toward Duffy and other women working for the borough, received a salary of $11,000 less than her male predecessor, and Borough Administrator Carrol McMorrow, with the help of Kranjac and Councilman William Woo, “immediately engaged in a campaign to sabotage” Duffy’s job and subject her to “ongoing harassment and a hostile work environment.” The Record
And finally…Six Flags Great Adventure gives a sneak preview of monster ‘Jersey Devil’ roller coaster. NJ.com
It is unbelievable that Gov.Murphy prioritizes “equity” ahead of public health and economic opportunity (vaccine passports in this case). The two issues are (or at least should be) unrelated and independent of each other. But this is the Governor who promoted the Covid deaths of hundreds (if not thousands) of seniors in nursing homes and other care facilities by forcing the facilities to take Covid patients rather than totally isolating the facilities (as has been done for centuries to curb epidemics). “We’re Number 1”